These shielded forceps
were used to handle small sources (e.g., radium needles and radon seeds)
at the Radium Chemical Company of New York City. An almost
identical example is shown in a company catalog that probably dates from
the 1950s or 1960s. The catalog description reads: "Lead hand shield
with 12" forceps."

The photograph above
left shows an identical pair of forceps in use at the facility. The
hand-written inscription on the back of the photograph reads "
Placing gold implants in glass ampule ready for sealing using
lead-shielded forceps"

The shield consists of two layers, an inner layer of what I believe to
be aluminum, and an outer layer of lead (ca. 1.5 mm thick).